Support structure of a cooling fan

ABSTRACT

A support structure of a cooling fan includes a base and a tube. The base has a raised section perpendicularly extending from the base and defining a first opening with a first inner diameter. A reception section is formed between the base and the raised section and has a first end and a second end connected with the raised section and base respectively. A second opening is formed between the first and second ends in communication with the first opening and has a second inner diameter equal to the first inner diameter and a third inner diameter larger than the second inner diameter. The tube is fitted in the first and second openings and has a first flange and a second flange mated with the raised section and reception section respectively. The second flange has a third end and a fourth end corresponding to the first and second ends respectively.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support structure of a cooling fan, and more particularly to a support structure of a cooling fan, which is made by insertion injection molding. Although the base and the tube of the support structure are made of different materials, the base and the tube can be still precisely and securely assembled with each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the existent 3C electronic products, the electronic components will generate high heat in operation. The heat must be dissipated efficiently. Otherwise, the temperature will rise to cause damage or even burnout of the electronic components. In order to dissipate the heat and avoid damage of the electronic components, at least one heat dissipation unit (such as a radiating fin assembly or a heat sink) and a cooperative cooling fan are arranged in the electronic product to dissipate the heat generated by the electronic components so as to prolong the lifetime thereof.

A conventional cooling fan has a base and an annular wall extending from a circumference of the base to form a frame body. The annular wall defines a flow way. A central sleeve is disposed at a center of the base. A shaft of the propeller of the cooling fan is rotatable fitted in the central sleeve. A motor stator assembly is fixedly fitted around the central sleeve for driving the propeller.

There are many kinds of fan frame bodies, which are generally made by means of injection molding. The injection molding method has the advantages of easy manufacturing and low cost and is thus widely used. However, the thickness of the plastic wall of the frame body made by injection molding is limited. It is hard to manufacture a frame body with a thin plastic wall.

Moreover, in the case that a thin metal sheet is used as the base of the frame body of the cooling fan, the frame body will have a flow way in the form of an arcuate reverse angle and is hard to manufacture. In addition, the metal material is expensive and it is difficult to precisely control the size of the base. Under such circumstance, it is necessary to assemble a copper-made central sleeve with the metal base by intrusion. As a result, the manufacturing cost is increased due to the additional copper-made central sleeve and the manufacturing process is complicated as well as the working time is increased. Furthermore, after processed, the support structure often has the problem of unstable verticality. Therefore, the conventional support structure of the cooling fan has the following defects:

-   1. Higher cost. -   2. It is hard to control the size. -   3. Poorer precision. -   4. It is hard to assemble the support structure. -   5. Longer working time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a support structure of a cooling fan, which is made by insertion injection molding. Although the tube and the base of the support structure are made of different materials, the tube and the base can be still precisely and securely assembled with each other.

A further object of the present invention is to provide the above support structure of the cooling fan, which is manufactured at lower cost.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide the above support structure of the cooling fan, in which the structural precision of the base and the tube is enhanced.

To achieve the above and other objects, the support structure of the cooling fan of the present invention includes: a base having a raised section perpendicularly extending from a surface of the base, the raised section having a free end defining a first opening having a first inner diameter, a reception section being formed between the base and the raised section, the reception section having a first end connected with the raised section and a second end connected with the base, a second opening being formed between the first end and the second end in communication with the first opening, the second opening having a second inner diameter equal to the first inner diameter and a third inner diameter larger than the second inner diameter; and a tube correspondingly fitted in the first opening and the second opening. The tube has a first flange and a second flange, which are disposed around the tube. The first flange is mated with the raised section. The second flange is mated with the reception section. The second flange has a third end corresponding to the first end and a fourth end corresponding to the second end. The support structure of the cooling fan is made by means of insertion injection molding. Although the base and the tube of the support structure are made of different materials, the base and the tube can be still precisely and securely assembled with each other. The support structure of the cooling fan is manufactured at lower cost and the structural strength and structural precision of the base and the tube are enhanced.

According to the above, the present invention has the following advantages:

-   1. Simple structure. -   2. Higher precision. -   3. Lower cost. -   4. Shortened working time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional exploded view of a first embodiment of the support structure of the cooling fan of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional assembled view of the first embodiment of the support structure of the cooling fan of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of the first embodiment of the support structure of the cooling fan of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective sectional exploded view of a second embodiment of the support structure of the cooling fan of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional exploded view of a third embodiment of the support structure of the cooling fan of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG. 1 is a sectional exploded view of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional assembled view of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention. According to the first embodiment, the support structure 1 of the cooling fan of the present invention includes a base 11 and a tube 12.

The base 11 has a raised section 111 perpendicularly extending from a surface of the base 11. The raised section 111 is continuously annularly disposed on the base 11 and has a free end 1111. The free end 1111 defines a first opening 112 having a first inner diameter 1121. A reception section 113 is formed between the base 11 and the raised section 111. The reception section 113 has a first end 1131 connected with the raised section 111 and a second end 1132 connected with the base 11. The reception section 113 has the form of an arcuate reverse angle. A second opening 114 is formed between the first end 1131 and the second end 1132 in communication with the first opening 112. The second opening 114 has a second inner diameter 1141 equal to the first inner diameter 1121 and a third inner diameter 1142 larger than the second inner diameter 1141.

The tube 12 is correspondingly fitted in the first opening 112 and the second opening 114. The tube 12 has a first flange 121 and a second flange 122, which are continuously annularly disposed around the tube 12. The first flange 121 is mated with the free end 1111. The second flange 122 is mated with the reception section 113. The second flange 122 has a mating face in the form of an arcuate reverse angle for snugly mating with the reception section 113. The second flange 122 has a third end 1133 corresponding to the first end 1131 and a fourth end 1134 corresponding to the second end 1132.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a perspective sectional exploded view of a second embodiment of the present invention. According to the second embodiment, the support structure 1 of the cooling fan of the present invention includes a base 11 and a tube 12. The base 11 and the tube 12 are substantially identical to the base and the tube of the first embodiment in structure and positional relationship. Therefore, the basic structures of the base 11 and the tube 12 will not be repeatedly describes hereinafter. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the raised section 111 is discontinuously annularly disposed on the base 11. The raised section 111 has multiple extending arms 111 a defining therebetween at least one third space 111 b.

The first flange 121 is discontinuously annularly disposed around the tube 12. The first flange 121 has multiple first stopper blocks 121 a defining therebetween at least one first space 121 b.

The second flange 122 is discontinuously annularly disposed around the tube 12. The second flange 122 has multiple second stopper blocks 122 a defining therebetween at least one second space 122 b.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a sectional exploded view of a third embodiment of the present invention. According to the third embodiment, the support structure 1 of the cooling fan of the present invention includes a base 11 and a tube 12. The base 11 and the tube 12 are substantially identical to the bases and the tubes of the first and second embodiments in structure and positional relationship. Therefore, the basic structures of the base 11 and the tube 12 will not be repeatedly describes hereinafter. The third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that the reception section 113 has the form of a plane reverse angle and the second flange 122 has a mating face in the form of a plane reverse angle for snugly mating with the reception section 113.

The support structure of the cooling fan of the present invention is made by means of insertion injection molding. In comparison with the prior art, although the base and the tube of the impeller support structure are made of different materials, the base and the tube can be still precisely and securely assembled with each other. The support structure of the cooling fan of the present invention is manufactured at lower cost and the structural precision of the base and the tube is enhanced.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. It is understood that many changes and modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims. 

1. A support structure of a cooling fan, comprising: a base having a raised section perpendicularly extending from a surface of the base, the raised section having a free end defining a first opening having a first inner diameter, a reception section being formed between the base and the raised section, the reception section having a first end connected with the raised section and a second end connected with the base, a second opening being formed between the first end and the second end in communication with the first opening, the second opening having a second inner diameter equal to the first inner diameter and a third inner diameter larger than the second inner diameter; and a tube correspondingly fitted in the first opening and the second opening, the tube having a first flange and a second flange, which are disposed around the tube, the first flange being mated with the raised section, the second flange being mated with the reception section, the second flange having a third end corresponding to the first end and a fourth end corresponding to the second end.
 2. The support structure of the cooling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first flange is continuously annularly disposed around the tube.
 3. The support structure of the cooling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first flange is discontinuously annularly disposed around the tube.
 4. The support structure of the cooling fan as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first flange has multiple first stopper blocks defining therebetween at least one first space.
 5. The support structure of the cooling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second flange is continuously annularly disposed around the tube.
 6. The support structure of the cooling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second flange is discontinuously annularly disposed around the tube.
 7. The support structure of the cooling fan as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second flange has multiple second stopper blocks defining therebetween at least one second space.
 8. The support structure of the cooling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the raised section is continuously annularly disposed on the base.
 9. The support structure of the cooling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the raised section is discontinuously annularly disposed on the base.
 10. The support structure of the cooling fan as claimed in claim 9, wherein the raised section has multiple extending arms defining therebetween at least one third space. 